"Georgia is the victim of a Russian ‘special operation’,” declared President Salome Zourabichvili at a briefing on October 27, standing in solidarity with opposition leaders and publicly denouncing the October 26 parliamentary election results. 

Zourabichvili went on to call the election outcome a “total falsification, total stealing of your votes”. Speaking a day after the high-turnout election, which saw Georgian Dream secure a parliamentary majority with 54.8% of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC), Zourabichvili said that the election’s result threatens Georgia’s democratic future and its place in Europe.

The election is seen as a critical juncture for Georgia to either resume its progress towards EU accession or return to Russian influence. Although Georgian Dream officially supports Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic goals, including EU membership, its recent actions — such as passing a "foreign agent law" reminiscent of Russian legislation — have raised grave concerns among its Western partners.

Zourabichvili called for unity in rejecting the results of the recent parliamentary elections, calling for a collective stand against Russian influence in Georgia.

She urged citizens to gather on the main street in Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue, on the evening of October 28 to publicly declare their non-recognition of the election outcomes and to defend their constitutional rights.

"We will stand together ... I would like to invite you all to Rustaveli tomorrow, at 7 p.m., so that we can say together, declare to the whole world that we do not recognise these elections, we are defending constitutional rights,” Zourabichvili told the press conference.

The president's address is significant as she aligns herself with opposition leaders. Her role is crucial in Georgia’s current political climate due to her unique position as both a unifying figure for the opposition and an active advocate for Georgia’s integration with Europe. 

Central to her appeal is the "Georgian Charter”, an agreement she unveiled on Independence Day, which advocates for an interim government to reverse Georgian Dream’s recent legislative measures. Signed by all of four main opposition parties, the charter proposes urgent EU-aligned reforms and the rescission of contentious laws such as the "foreign agent law”, which has raised concerns over civil liberties. 

International observers, including representatives from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Nato Parliamentary Assembly (Nato PA) and the European Parliament, raised serious concerns over Georgia’s October 26 parliamentary elections, citing a polarised political environment exacerbated by restrictive laws, media favouritism, and uneven campaign resources that significantly benefited the ruling Georgian Dream party. Although the legal framework was deemed adequate for conducting democratic elections, recent legislative changes and limited oversight undermined electoral integrity. Observers noted issues such as voter intimidation, inadequate campaign finance monitoring, and widespread media bias toward the ruling party, all of which cast doubt on the fairness of the election process.

Representative of the international community voiced concern regarding the trustworthiness of the elections, pointing at Russian influence during pre-election and voting procedures.

Georgian Dream engaged in hostile rhetoric and “promoted Russian disinformation” and conspiracy theories throughout the campaign to “undermine and manipulate the vote,” said Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, head of the European Parliament monitoring delegation. Such tactics have not only raised alarms among international observers but also intensified domestic tensions, as opposition groups mobilise to challenge the election results.

On October 27, US Helsinki Commission chairman Rep. Joe Wilson urged the US State Department to look into allegations of election fraud and Russian interference in Georgia’s October 26 parliamentary elections. Wilson expressed concern over "credible reports of systematic violations" during the Georgian election and noted the “well-documented attempts by Russia to influence the outcome”. He called on the State Department to thoroughly investigate these claims and, if substantiated, to issue a clear public statement.

The statement said that “the Georgian people deserve a government that respects and listens to their voices,” adding that the MEGOBARI Act introduced in Congress aims to hold accountable those undermining Georgia’s democracy while supporting the Georgian people’s pursuit of freedom and national sovereignty. Wilson's appeal reflects a growing international concern about electoral integrity in Georgia and highlights the importance of US involvement in supporting democratic processes abroad.

Amid these developments, Zourabichvili’s remarks resonate with the sentiment echoed by opposition parties, particularly the United National Movement (UNM). Spokesman Alexandre Crevaux-Asatiani said that failing to challenge the Georgian Dream’s retention of power could lead to severe consequences for the nation. “We will be isolated from the international community. Georgia does not have a domestic industry it can rely on when we are isolated from the rest of the world. Georgia will be swallowed up completely by Russia, and it will take maybe years for democracy to return to the country. This is absolutely an existential election, and that's why we will not let this go so easily.” This shared rhetoric among opposition parties strengthens their efforts to unify against what they consider an existential threat to Georgia’s sovereignty and democratic values.

In this context, the president's role remains central to the unification of the opposition; her stance shapes a definitive strategy — denouncing the legitimacy of the elections and laying the groundwork for subsequent actions in the coming days. Zourabichvili’s leadership will be pivotal in rallying support for a movement aimed at safeguarding Georgia’s democratic future.